Official Website

Yesterday the official website was launched. Surprisingly, it works quite well. My signin from last year worked first shot.

Strangely, when I signed in I had a gold crown next to my name, which I would have thought meant I was signed up for VIP, but I have not done so yet. Is this a bug, an anomaly in their database, or do they just love me? Regardless, I think I'd better sign up properly anyway.

They have provided some good teaser videos, slideshows and stories to kick off with. It's good to have some content on there for the launch. Looks like there are a lot of spaces where more information will appear after the launch, e.g. the very vacant looking header bar. Also there are a lot of menus missing that will have to appear later, like the Diary!

Navigation is a bit dodgy. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but things have moved around a lot. The top menus seem out of logical order. This again may sort itself out later.

But thank goodness that horrible dark gloomy website of the last 3 years is gone. This one is very bright and clean and spaced out nicely. It looks a lot easier to read. The video player is also greatly improved on last year, and my video capture software works perfectly with it, so I'll be able to grab copies of all the videos they put up. Last year it was way too tricky!

SYTYCD Housemate Preview

New ads are promoting a sneak preview at one housemate during this week's final performance show of So You Think You Can Dance.

I wonder if whatever this promo is was planned for Rove that night and was moved after Kyle's on-air sook about Rove.

Regardless, why are we being treated with this preview. It is one of 3 things:

1. A genuine preview of a housemate, possibly obscured from full view in some way, just because they're being nice? (I DON'T THINK SO!)
2. Someone who will be part of a twist, e.g. a mole (but isn't that too obvious?)
3. A publicity stunt. The "housemate" will be someone or something other than the obvious.

If they were really going to say "hey, here's a housemate", wouldn't it make sense to make it one of the 3 the viewers voted in, and if it was a viewer's choice, wouldn't it make more sense to introduce all 3 on the show? Or maybe they will introduce the 3 viewer's choice HMs on different Channel 10 shows throughout the week.

84 Days

Sounds like ths series will only run 84 days this year. The 100 days of the last few years was a bit of a magic number-- 84 just doesn't sound as good.

But it is a good solid 12 weeks, and assuming this is the year BB proves itself all over again, it is probably reasonable that they reduce the length back to where it used to be in the first 4 seasons. BB needs to build up its character as a new show and whatever it takes to do that and ensure many more series, I will live with.

I'm hoping they don't overdo the HMs though. If the rumoured 18 are to enter in the first week, this leaves no room for intruders. It would actually be really refreshing, and prove the format even more, if they had a year with no intruders. Firstly because HMs will expect them and have bets every week that "this is the week", and also because it will prove the strength of the characters they put in to begin with. Of course if the original HM casting is screwed up then this will ruin everything.

CALENDAR UPDATE
Also, the Calendar at the top of this page has been updated with the Day numbers from 0 to 84, with the finale presumably falling on Sunday July 20. Just click the "Google Calendars" logo to import my Calendars into your Google Calendar account. This will automatically update your schedule with all the BB TV shows and events I add as the series goes on.

Promos Ramping Up

At last the TV promos have gone up a notch and now introduce the new hosts Kyle and Jackie O, and what seems to be the theme of the promos for 08, "I Don't Think So". The ad is set to the Kelis track of the same name.

The full 30 second ad airing on Channel 10 now also includes the phrases:

• New Hosts. Same Show? I Don't Think So!
• New Attitude
• Dynamic Housemates
• An X-tra Cheeky Show "Big Mouth"
• Seen It All Before? I Don't Think So!

We'll come back to some of those phrases after Week 1 and see if they were right!

FNL Tickets on Sale to Public This Year

BB has come to his senses and will sell tickets to be in the live audience for FNL this year.

Previously the audience for this show and Monday's Nominations shows have been limited to about 100 invited guests. From what I've heard they were friends and family of Dreamworld employees and BB cast and crew, and all tickets were allocated at the beginning of the series.

This year fans will be able to buy tickets from the Dreamworld website. This has previously only been done for the final FNL of the year, and tickets went for $15 in 2006, and I think about $20-25 in 2007. Hopefully tickets will remain in the affordable category this year, and plenty are made available.

I will defintiely be making this part of the agenda for whatever weekend I manage to get up there this year for an Eviction show.

Calendar Added

Today I have added a calendar that will appear at the top of my blog and let you know what's going on in the world of Big Brother.
The calendar currently has 3 event groups:

• Blue events are TV episodes: Daily Show, Big Mouth, FNL, Evictions, and all specials, including promotional appearances by hosts and HMs.
• Red events are things that are happening inside the BB House.
• Green events are things going on outside the house.

I hope this keeps you up to date with what is happening and you don't miss a beat.

Promos to Begin Tonight?

It is speculated that tonight will be the launch of the BB08 TV ads. With probably 3, or possibly 4 weeks until the series launch, it is really about time.

How much will they give away this year? Will we start with teasers and work our way up? Will they announce the start date? Will they show glimpses of housemates and the house?

I remember back in early 2001 I went to Dreamworld for the first time. It was early in the year and the park was filled with banners with the BB eye and the words "BIG BROTHER IS COMING". At that time I had absolutely no idea what Big Brother was, or could be. But this was my first exposure to the BB teaser ads.

Since then we have seen pre-season promos:

• Announcing BB rumours (03),
• "What's the secret?" (04),
• Gretel interrogating BB "Assume Nothing. Expect Anything" (05)
• Birds, bees, rainbows, and world firsts (06)
• "What Big Brother Promises He Delivers" (07)

This year, the angle will likely be the changes to the series. I'd love to see ads featuring ALL the show's hosts. A Kyle and Jackie ad, a Mike, Bree & Ryan ad, a Tony & Rebecca ad, and a Paul & Tim ad. Make them all different to appeal to different groups, with a common look or thread.

Hopefully they will do away with the Channel 10 look and feel of 2-colour words-on-background flashing kind of promos. They need to come across as more mature than that.

How unfortunate that I will have to watch TBL tonight just for the ads!